PHILADELPHIA -- With the Eagles' season on the line, outside linebacker Trent Cole was standing on the sideline. Their leader this season in sacks and tackles for loss was pacing the sidelines, trying to get back in a game that ultimately would end moments later with the Saints celebrating at Lincoln Financial Field.

Outside linebacker Brandon Graham was on the field for the first five plays of the Saints' game-winning drive. By the time Cole got onto the field, New Orleans had already gained 24 yards and was well within field-goal range.

Cole returned to the field after the two-minute warning. From that point on, the Saints ran the ball four times and kicked a 32-yard field goal that crushed the Eagles' playoff dreams. Cole was clearly not happy with his spot on the sideline during the most important drive of the Eagles' season.

"No comment," he said after the game. "You can watch the tape."

Cole was visibly upset outside the Eagles' locker room after the contest. He was seen shaking his head in disgust.

Defensive coordinator Billy Davis explained that Cole was subbed out because the Eagles defense was wearing down. They were on the field for a total of 68 plays in the 26-24 loss.

New Orleans finished with a surprising 36 carries for 185 yards. That's more than twice what they averaged per game in the regular season.

"We were going in there and about every third series we were going to roll [Cole and Graham] anyway to freshen them up. It just happened to be that series," Davis said. "[Outside linebackers coach] Billy [McGovern] was on that. He was going to let Brandon get a couple and then [Cole] was going to go out there again. That is how that played out."

The way it played out is that the Eagles didn't have arguably their best defensive player the second half of the season on the field in the most crucial moment. They needed to keep the Saints from gaining any yards after a long kickoff return and penalty put them in Eagles territory with just under five minutes remaining.

Maybe when the Saints ran over the left guard on the second play of the drive, Cole could have made a difference. Graham burst upfield at the snap and was immediately out of the play. Khiry Robinson gained 13 yards on the play.

Maybe Cole could have made a difference when Brees completed a 6-yard pass to Marques Colston two plays later. We'll never know. All that's certain is that Cole was on the sideline helpless as the Eagles' season drifted away.